BOOtiful Design, Day Two

While I appreciate the latent onomatopoeic quality in the name of this lighting fixture—it's called 'Vichy'—I am more impressed by its form: an abstracted bat [vampire, or some less threatening branch of the taxonomy]. It's available with a wider 'wingspan'. jonathanbrowninginc.com

Points of Light

Applying its expertise in illuminated door handles to a smaller scale, Martin Pierce is developing a collection of LED-powered drawer and cupboard pulls. The Morphic collection is lit with a tiny, high density light strip. Dimmable, it provides accurate color renderings—an important consideration when cabinets are literally in the spot light. martinpierce.com

A Brassy Bath

At once polished and proletarian, this bath has a quality of refuge about it. The combination of humble plaster walls and gleaming brass—albeit with a hint of tarnish—is grounding, at least for me. It's a reassurance many of us are seeking these days, whether looking for rescue from the horrors of Hurricane Harvey or the buffeting forces of political strife. hansverstufytarchitecten.be

A Beacon

Dark times are these. Good design can help, with its emphasis on quality, imagination, and service. The modest and balanced design of the Tull fixture is an example. The aluminum-shaded light comes in some cheery color combos, like turquoise and orange, as well as copper and nickel versions. Available in table/floor and pendant models, Tull was designed by Tommaso Caldera. incipitlab.com

Circular Reasoning

In the Laurence collection, spherical globe lights are imaginatively connected with flattened plates of metal. Sections of circles, the plates add a dash of color to the fixture, and make the hidden geometry of the light visible. lambertetfils.com

Enlightened Design

I think it's the extreme light fixture that makes this lovely bathroom memorable. The silver spheres add a literal sparkle to the space, and jolt the design into the contemporary. The height of the room [use the chair to judge the scale] is another out-of-the-ordinary asset. stephenvolpe.com

Light, Fantastic

I'm intrigued by the molten quality of this sconce. It conveys the essence of light—its colors, luminosity, and energy—in a way that's visceral but not overwhelmingly so; it still retains a sense of mystery. The Melt fixture is also available in table lamp and pendant styles. tomdixon.net

Lighten Up, Day Three

For every problem, there is a solution—and this one is rather elegant, in my opinion. The LS4 provides 'undercabinet' light in kitchens that have no wall cabinets. LED bulbs are sandwiched in a shelf that's made of glare-neutralizing translucent panels. gera-leuchten.de

Lighten Up, Day Two

Rigged in a way that's reminiscent of a chemistry lab experiment, the Fluid Edition hanging fixture actually is a blend of science and art. Designer Nao Tamura uses mirrors, light, glass vessels, and water to evoke the instant when sunbeams first hit the surface of a lake and triggers a spreading spark of light. wonder-glass.com

Lighten Up

It's a big year for lighting design: Last month, Euroluce was held in Milan, and this week Philadelphia hosts Lightfair. In observance—and to counteract the predicted stretch of rainy, dark weather ahead—I'm featuring new luminaires the rest of the week.

Designed by Bart Lens, the OH!LED hanging fixture uses [of course] OLED technology. Unlike LED lamps, OLEDs provides soft, glare-free illumination. Measuring less than a quarter-inch in thickness, the head of this model can pivot to provide light wherever it's needed. Dimmable, it's available in satin black and satin white aluminum. edendesign.be

Art Appreciated

Look long enough at the Miro 2 hanging fixture—and it still remains an enigma, at least to me. In a time when answers to the most obtuse questions can be found in the blink of an eye, I'm happy to contemplate the deliberate composition of the light, its unequal glass globes pierced by a brass frame. atelierdetroupe.com

Spot Light

Equal parts decorative and industrial, the Pop Round fixture can be installed on the ceiling or the wall. The faceplate is offered in several colors, and different types of bulbs—Edison-style with an intricate filament, frosted make-up mirror globes, and more—shift the look of the light from Art Deco to vintage workplace. Michael Amato designed the quirky lumenaire. urbanelectricco.com

The Right Light

Not everything shown at iSalone is flamboyant, striving design. Case in point: Shine, the understated yet elegant towel bar/light/grab bar by Monica Graffeo. The light can be focused in different directions without compromising the gripability or strength of the installation. This accessory is universal design in the truest sense of the word. everlifedesign.it

Resolving Differences

We live in confusing, confounding times. From the presidential campaign with its off-kilter choices [thankfully, these are contracting after every primary vote; a big buh-bye to !] to the tortured seasonal transition [warm one day, freezing the next], change is constant. Even though this kitchen exhibits both a mainstream choice in materials and an iconoclastic taste in lighting, I think it is a stimulating design. pierreyonavitch.com

A Cultured Sense of Calm

The way light and line unite in this bath is mighty conducive to relaxation, wouldn't you say? No grout lines crisscrossing the surfaces, a soothing horizontal orientation, and a gentle glow add up to one sweet retreat. arkham.it

Kitchen for a New Year

For the last kitchen to be featured in 2015, I searched for something slightly fabulous and forward-looking. Hopefully, this space in a renovated manor house fits the bill. It has the requisite glitter factor, with polished brass topping the counter and lining the gem-faceted cooking alcove. A few golden pendant lights drip downward; the way they attach to the ceiling reminds me of pierced earrings. There is a bit of photographic trickery at work here—it has collapsed the very long room into a seemingly small space. thomaskroeger.net

Christmas Countdown, Day 3

Tomorrow night, kids around the world [and NORAD] will be scanning the skies for flying reindeer. Designed by Dima Loginoff, the Mountain View pendant light captures a bit of the topography that Santa and company might soar over. The 'mountain' that forms the diffuser in the hand-crafted fixture can be had in amber or grey, in addition to clear glass. axolight.it

Table, Mannered

With Thanksgiving coming up on the calendar, thoughts turn to food [will there be enough?] and furniture [how many chairs?]. The Continuum table, with its integral overhead lighting, would be welcome at any dinner, whether everyday or holiday. Matteo Nunziati designed the piece. natevo.com

Haunting Design, Day 2

The unblinking owls of the Ti Vedo [Italian for 'I see you'] wall fixture could be friendly...or have foul [ahem] play in mind, their orange eyes inscrutably glowing. Designed by Matteo Ugolini for Karman, the ceramic lights have a beguiling mid-century vibe. globallighting.com

Lighten, Up

 

I see the fad of exposed plumbing has overflowed into the world of lighting. What's most interesting about the Beaubien fixture is that it can be used as a freestanding luminaire [with a kickstand-like support, as seen above] or attached to a wall or suspended from the ceiling. It's in this latter form that I think it would be most appreciated in the bath or kitchen. lambertetfils.com